Thousands March in Havana After U.S. Indictment of Raúl Castro

"We had the right to defend ourselves. They were warned many times not to violate our airspace. And they did," said Adalgisa Durán Vargas, a languages teacher.

"We're on our way to the Anti-Imperialist Tribune, to support the Cuban Revolution. Against the mean and unfair charges against our former President Raúl Castro Ruz," said Alberto Olivera, manager of a social project.

"I'm here because I'm a revolutionary, because I believe in Fidel and Raúl and in Díaz-Canel. I've come here to defend my country," said Dania Piloto, a human resources manager.

"The U.S. isn't going to take him. They aren't going to do anything to Raúl," said Katherine Blanco, a security guard.

"They're trying to create a media cloud to do the show they did in Venezuela. But it's not going to be the same," Durán Vargas said.

"It's like everything else the empire fabricates to harm people. Ultimately, we're the ones who suffer the most. And those accusations are more of the same," said Nelson Martínez, a computer engineer.

"Who are they to judge Raúl, the young man who assaulted Moncada Barracks without fear of death?" said Gerardo Hernández, president of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. "The U.S. government possesses neither legitimacy, nor evidence, nor jurisdiction to accuse the Army General. The mobsters know it; Washington knows it. And everybody knows it."

"It's been more than proven that Cuba has never been a threat to the U.S. It's the opposite. The threat has historically come from the United States," said Imanol Urteaga, a tourist from Spain.

"We've always been ready for fellowship, because we are neighbors," Piloto said.

"Dialogue and understanding between peoples, based on mutual sovereignty and respect should determine relations. War never leads to anything good," Urteaga added.

"If they see us as a threat, that's on them. Cuba is no threat. Cuba provides aid, not threats," Blanco said.

"We are absolutely certain, as the Bay of Pigs demonstrated, that we'll always defend ourselves," said Omara Prieto, a workers union leader.

"We are Cubans, and here we are defending our freedom, which was won with the machete's blade," Durán Vargas said.

"The United States thinks badly of us. They're wrong. They think poorly of this little country. We're strong, and it bothers them," Piloto concluded.